Conveyer belt



June 22, 1948. l B. M. BROOKS ETAL l2,443947 CONVEYER BELT Filed Dec. 4, 1945 sheets-sheet 1 :Fi q2- L l L wgmg N June 22, 14948.

B. M. BROOKS E1-AL `2,443,947

coNvEYER BELT Filed Dec.4 4, 1945 2 sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTORS Buford Jll. Brooks Patented June 22, 1948 UNITED s NPA-r,.- NT

:ooNvEYEn BELT Buferd lrocks andlLous .M irslisk, v,.lJovel', N. J.

`ApplicationDecember 4, 1945,-`Serial1No. 632,716

V5 Claims. l

This invention relates to conveyors.

The principal object of the invention is a con.- veyor which` is comprised. of simple, readily constructed uand readil-y assembled parts, land which may be used for movement on a horizontal plane or on a-vertical plane orwin both planes `at the same time. The construction of this conveyor provides universalflexibiiity in verticales well as lateral directions. l

VA Preferred embodiment of the invention Vis .shown in the aeeempehyinsdmwihs .in -wlfflehn` fFlc, 1 is a yfrasmenteufv.vertical .sectienen the 11i-ue lts-lof Fig. 2 ,showing che spreek-et wheel orf the conveyor, a mein treeh ande return` track. and e few f the links ef the eeuvever belt. yseid belt beine en endless belt 'although het seshewn fer pnrposes of clarity;

lFis- .2 ,is a fragmentary top view of seid belt; (Fig. `3 is a vertical section on `the line 0f Fis. 1.1, ,seid view showing how .the belt is pesi- `tiene dflfivith respect to the main and return tracks ofthe Convey-or although `said belt is net actually shown.` on the line 3.-.3 in Fig. 1; Y

Eis l is e tlasmehtery ten viewef the belt shown, m Figs A1` te 3. showing seid belt en a hertzentelly curved track;

Fie. .5 is a side view ef the .sprecket wheel shown Fis. l;

Fig. 6 is a. verticalV section tlllQlle'l'l saidwheel Qu the liueS- ef Fig. .5;

Fis. l is a peripheral or top view of seid, sprocket wheel;

Eig, 8 is al UOD View of one 0f SaldOIlVeYQri Fig. 9 is a front edge view thereof;

Fig. 10 is a side edge viewthereoi; and

Fig. 11 is ya View of said conveyor belt shown mounted `o n 4a track similar to that shown-in Fig. 3 except that it is not adaptedto return the conveyor belt to its original position.

The conveyor shown in the accompanying drawing comprises a plurality of sprocket Wheels 2l) as shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, a plurality o f carrier members 2*! as shown in Figs. -8 toll), inclusive. a plurality oflinls `22 as-showmvfor example, in Figs. 1 and 3,l and a tra-ck 23 as shown in Fig. 3 or a track 24 as shown irl-Fig. 11.

Referringnow to the sprocket wheel-shownin Figs. 5 to 7, it vfwillvbe notedthat this Wheel -is -provided with a hub 3D and a pair of plates 3| and-32, respectively, which are locked together and which are-stamped out to form a circumferential groove 33- which widens out at spaced intervals to form pockets 34. The conveyorbelt-proper is comprised of apluof the carrier plates -rality of carriermelmb rs 2| as shown inf-Figs. `8 to 10 linked together-bymeans of links-22. `lilech carrier member 2l comprises acarrierplatefnfto thelbottom of which are allxedfa pair ofhooks 4l and 42, respectively. These hooks extend downwardly from the plated!) andare-positioned to face one another. `Incross section, the'hooks 4l ande? are-curvedand preferably circular. The plate 40 has two rounded ends and it isiprovidegi` with c ut .outs `43 to reduce its weight. `I .inks 22 are oval in shape and their cross sectionls Asub- S..teultieillv` circulel- Referring now to'Fig. 1, it will beseen that the conveyor proper4 is formed .of e plulelity et ser. rier memberszzl linked together by means of links 22. .said .links connecting the adjacent hooks lOf adjacent .carrier ,rnelnbers.` It` will also be seen in Fig. land .also inFig. .2 thatthe linkslare adapted to ft` into the pockets 34 of .Sprocket wheels Nehdthet thehooks 4l auditieve adapted te :t into the groeve. 33 of said splieehet Wheels. At thepointwhere thepockets Sli -narnow tofform the groove 33, shoulders 45 are providedagainst which the. ends of .thelinkslabut lt` is at this point of contact betweenthe shouldersll5:.and the links fr22 that the `drivinglpower of the .sprocket wheels is communicated to theeonveyor belt.

Reference to'Fig. 11 will show that the track comprises a pair of spaced bars 50 which are provided Withside flanges 5l on` their outer sides. These flanges serve simplyV to reiniorce'theebars 5D and keepthem `from bending. The space betweenbars is Wide enough to accommodate hooks `lil vand 42. 4The thickness of bars ,50 is such that they are enabled to nt into 4the space hetweenthecarrier, plates 40 and the 1lnks220n both sides ofthe heokslll andI 42. Brackets` '52 affixed tothe `side angest l assist in maintaining bers ,5c inthe positions indicated. Bars Pignot only guide theteonveyor belt. ,but they also .support it an'd, more particularly, the carrier plates 4D thereof. As shown inlig. 11,l links 22 prevent upward displacement sii the conveyor belt withre- Sheet tpe-.the harsV 5B `and the hooks 4l and 42: preveht'laterel. displacement thereof .with respect to seidebarsl Track 24. may be l :urvedV on. a horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 4. It may also be curved upwardn ly :or downwardly .although `.this ,feature is Ynot shown miti-1e. drawing. V`As has alreadybeenindicated. the-conveyor .belt will followthe track very4 closelyfwhether it curves on a verticalforyon e.horizontalY plane forlthe reason that vertical Fig. 3, they are formed integrally with each otherthe upper half functioning as the main track, the lower half functioning as the return track. More particularly, the track shown in Fig. 3 comprises a pair of spaced upper bars 60 and a pair of spaced lower bars El, one of the bars being connected to the corresponding bar 5.1 by means of a side ange 62 which is come mon to both and the other of said bars 8B being connected to the second of the bars 6i by means of side flange 63 which 'is integral with said latter bars. Bracket 64 affixed to the flanges 62 and 63 holds the bars Si) and 6I in appropriate spaced relationship. Insofar as upper bars 6u are concerned, the conveyor belt is supported and guided by them in the same manner as is shown in Fig. l1. After the conveyorbelt has passed around any one of the sprocket wheels 2B, 110W- ever, and it is on its return -tr-ip, it is guided and supported by the bars 6I as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The hooks 4| and 42 are accommodated by the space between bars 6i and they prevent lateral displacement of the belt as has already been indic-ated in connection with track 24. The links 22 are carried by the bars 6I and they prevent downward displacement of the conveyor belt. The carrier plates 40 hang below the bars 6| and their function in this connection is to prevent upward displacement of the conveyor belt. Thus it is that when the lower track is curved in a vertical lplane as shown in Fig. 1, theconveyor belt is guided along the path described by said track without any trouble. The lower track may also be curved on a horizontal plane as well as a vertical plane. y

The -above description is of a preferred embodiment of the invention and itis clear that variations and modifications may be incorporated therein without departing from the-basic principles of the invention. For example, the sprocket wheel shown in Figs. to 'l inclusive is, exclusive ofv its hub, stamped out of two sheet-s of metal which are then locked together and welded to the hub. It is of course perfectly obvious that this sprocket wheel may be cast into shape. The pockets 34 of said wheel correspond in shape to the links 22. Naturally, a differently shaped link would call for a diierently shaped pocket as appears in Fig. 1, the sprocket Wheel thus shown inthe drawing is keyed to a drive shaft 10. This renders the sprocket wheel a drive wheel. It should be understood that sprocketpwheels of Athis general construction may be provided with bearings instead of shaft keys so that they may serve as idlers instead of drive wheels. y

The carrier member shown in Figs. 8 to 10 is provided with open slots or cut outs 43. The lobject, of course, is to reduce the weight of the member but this may be done in diierent ways and by the use of differently yshaped cut outs. This member may be stamped out or cast into shape in accordance with which practice appears more desirable in the particular case. The tracks shown in Figs. 3 and 11 are provided with side flanges. Asa practical proposition, the track shown in Fig. 3 is constructed of a pair of chan- 4 nel bars which are U-shaped in cross section and the track shown in Fig. 11 is constructed of a pair of angle irons which are L-shaped in cross section. I-t should be understood that the side flanges of these tracks may be dispensed with entirely and the tracks proper, members 50 in Fig. 1'1 and members 6B and 6| in Fig. 3 may be supported and braced by either means.

1. A conveyor comprising alplurali'ty of sprocket wheels, a belt mounted on said wheels and a track guiding and supporting said belt, said belt comprising a plurality of carrier plates, hooks on said `plates and links connecting the hooks of radjacent plates, said sprocket wheels being provided with peripheral pockets which receive said links, said track lcomprising a pair of spaced bars which accommodate the carrier plate hooks between them, the carrier plates above them and the links below them.

2. AA conveyorv comprising a pair of sprocket wheels, an endless belt mounted on said wheels, and a track guiding said belt and `supporting at least 'a part of said belt, said belt comprising a plurality of carrierplates, a pair of hooks affixed to lthe bottom of each of saidplates and facing one another, and links connecting the hooks of adjacent plates, said sprocket wheels being provided with 'a circumferential groove accommodating said hooks, said groove having enlarged portions which receive said links, said track comprising a pair of spaced, iianged bars which accommodate the carrier plate hooks between them, the carrier plates on top of them and the links underneath them.

3. A conveyor comprising a pair of sprocket wheels having a circumferential groove widening out atspaced intervals to form pockets, an endless belt mounted on said sprocket wheels, said belt comprising a plurality of carrier plates, a Ipair of downwardly extending hooks afllxed to k the bottom of each of said plates and facing one another, and oval links connecting the adjacent hooks of adjacent plates, lsaid hooks fitting into the groove of said sprocket Wheels and said links tting into the pockets thereof, and 'a track for said belt, said tra-ck comprising a pair of spaced, flanged bars on which lthe carrier plates are suD- ported, the hooks of said plates .fitting into the space between said bars, and lthe links tting underneath said bars between the flanges thereof.

4. A conveyor comprising a plurality of sprocket wheels, a belt mounted on said wheels and a track guiding and supporting said belt, said belt comprising a plurality of carrier plates, hooks on said plates and links connecting the lhooks of adjacent plates, said sprocket wheels being provided with peripheral pockets which receive said links, said track comprising an upper pair of spaced bars anda lower pair of spaced bars, ysaid upper pair being adapted to 'accommodate the carrier plate hooks between them, the carrier plates above them and the links below them, said lower pair being adapted to accommodate the carrier plate hooks between them, the carrier plates below them and the links above them.

5. In combination I with a conveyor having hooked carrier members connected by means of links, a main track Icomprising a pair of spaced bars positioned to receive the hooks of said conveyor between them, the carrier members above them and the links underneath them, and 'a return track comprisingr a pair of spaced bars positioned to receive said hooks between them, said links Iabove them and said carrier members un- Number derneath them. 1,507,888 BUFORD M. BROOKS. 1,635,085 LOUIS MIRSHAK. 1,748,456 5 1,809,748 REFERENCES CITED 2,073,471 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Number Name Date 16,323 556,643 Ritscher Mar. 17, 1896 12,100

Name Date' McBride Sept. 9, 1924 Johnson July 5, 1927 Pangborn Feb. 25, 1930 Francis June 9, 1931 Franz Mar. 9, 1937 Bergmann Jan. 6, 1942 Renkin June 15, l1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia Nov. 22, 1934 Great Britain June 3, 1896 

